AFF Gathering #15 in NTL on 21 – 23 October 2022

​

Newcastle has been chosen as the AFF Annual Gathering destination for 2022 (postponed from 2021), occurring over the weekend of the 21st to 23rd October. The average temperature range for October is 14.1ºC – 22.1ºC. The average rainfall is 72.5mm with 11 rainy days. It is NSW's second most populated area and Australia's seventh most populous, representing 1.95% of Australia.

The weekend is likely to take in a wine tour, owing to the proximity of the Hunter Valley. Please make it known if you are interested in attending a wine tour when indicating your interest for the weekend, as this will help organisers make a good start on venues that can cater to our group size.

The lead organiser this year is a member that has turned up to many previous events, @Bindibuys.

Members that have offered help include: @support @Bindibuys @Princess Fiona

---

Activities​

Friday 21st October​

The dinner venue is The Landing Bar and Kitchen, located next to the Rydges on the water front. We will have the outdoor marquee all to ourselves, with the sides down for privacy. Menus are available online, and the exact kickoff time will be advised closer to the weekend.

Saturday 22nd October​

During the day will be a wine tour for those who have indicated interest/are booked for the tour and another tour – possibly dolphins – for those not attending the wine tour.

The dinner venue is The Cricketers Arms. There is a cash bar. The special guest is a local Newcastle breakfast DJ.

Sunday 23rd October​

A tour of the city will follow on the last day, ending at Fighter World, located conveniently next to the airport.

Click HERE to Register!!​

Tentative Attendees​

This list simply indicates an interest in attending the event and additionally, the wine tour. Members are in order of response to the thread and are not ranked from silver to platinum (least likely to most likely to attend).

Username	Arrival Details	Accommodation	Wine Tour	Fighter World	Departure Details
Bindibuys	Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	Yes	Limousine
Bindibuys +1	Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	Yes	Limousine
Hvr	21/10 QF1596	Holiday Inn Express	No	Yes	23/10 QF1599
drron	21/10 Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	No	23/10 Limousine
mrs.dr.ron	21/10 Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	No	No	23/10 Limousine
Doug_Westcott	21/10 VA1591	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	Yes	24/10 VA1592
serfty	20/10 QF1598	Holiday Inn Express	No	Yes	23/10 QF1599
zig	Friday only	Local	No	No
kpc	Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	No	No	Limousine
kpc +1	Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	No	No	Limousine
Mattg	21/10 VA1593	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	Yes	23/10 FC208
samh004	21/10 QF2421	Novotel	Yes	Yes	23/10 QF1946
FishFood	21/10 QF1948	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	Yes	23/10 QF1599
Fifa	21/10 Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	No	Yes	Limousine
Fifa +1	21/10 Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	No	Yes	Limousine
straitman	21/10 VA1593	Holiday Inn Express	No	Yes	24/10 VA1594
Sue Oz	21/10 VA1593	Holiday Inn Express	No	Yes	24/10 VA1594
straitman +1	Sat Dinner Only	N/A	No	No	TBA Limousine
kangarooflyer88	21/10 Train	Ibis Budget	Yes	Yes	23/10 QF
Eija	21/10 QF1596	TBA	No	Yes	23/10 QF1599
QFWP	22/10 VA1102	Holiday Inn Express	No	Yes	23/10 VA1109
Bundy Bear	21/10 VA932 then Train	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	Yes	23/10 JQ455
Matt_01	21/10 QF1948	TBA	Yes	Interested	23/10 QF1949
Jacques Vert	21/10 Train	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	No	23/10 Train
Gem56	21/10 Train	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	No	23/10 Train
Sprucegoose	21/10 VA1593	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	Yes	24/10 VA1594
Exceladdict	Friday only
Aeolus	Friday TBA	Holiday Inn Express	No	No	Sunday TBA
sharpinjr	Limousine	Local	No	Yes	Limousine
sharpinjr + 1	Limousine	Local	No	Yes	Limousine
admin	21 Oct VA1593	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	No	23 Oct VA1594
Princess Fiona	Limousine	Local	No	No	Limousine
CMA222			Yes	No
CMA222 +1			Yes	No
CaptJCool			Yes	Yes
CBR_Flyer	Friday		No	Yes

 

[Aeolus]

Looks like a bit of rain around all WE...warm though with day time temps 25-26 °C

As long as we don’t have to row a boat, I’m happy

 

[Bindibuys]

Googling a "cubit" now......

 

[Hvr]

http://www.bom.gov.au/nsw/forecasts/newcastle.shtml

Could be fun when 'we're singin' in the rain'.

Googling a "cubit" now......

That could be a new arc in the story of AFF gatherings.

 

[exceladdict]

Hoping to still be able to attend the friday, have had some possible interruptions to my plans but will keep you informed.

Confirmed that I won't be able to make it over to Newcastle, my apologies. Would really liked to have met you all! Perhaps next year

 

[Bundy Bear]

Thought I would do a bit of googling, since most of us are staying at the Holiday Inn as Diamonds.

Don’t forget your opal card



Now to get to dinner on time for 6pm.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Thought I would do a bit of googling, since most of us are staying at the Holiday Inn as Diamonds.

Don’t forget your opal card

View attachment 303979

Now to get to dinner on time for 6pm.




View attachment 303980

You don’t need an Opal card. You can use contactless with your credit/ debit card/ pay wave

 

[Bundy Bear]

You don’t need an Opal card. You can use contactless with your credit/ debit card/ pay wave

If you have an opal card you might be able to use the rest of the credit.

Now Saturday night easier to walk.


I just hope it doesn’t rain.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Thought I would do a bit of googling, since most of us are staying at the Holiday Inn as Diamonds.

Don’t forget your opal card

View attachment 303979

Now to get to dinner on time for 6pm.




View attachment 303980

You don’t need an Opal card. You can use contactless with your credit/ debit card/

If you have an opal card you might be able to use the rest of the credit.

Now Saturday night easier to walk.

View attachment 303981
I just hope it doesn’t rain.

haha think it might

 

[serfty]

You don’t need an Opal card. You can use contactless with your credit/ debit card/

Unless you have a Gold Opal where it may make a little more sense to use it.

$2.50 ($1.76 off peak) NTL (Airport) to Newcastle Interchange (City West) ...

 

[Bindibuys]

I do have hard copies of all of the above printed out for the attendees.

 

[CaptJCool]

If you have an opal card you might be able to use the rest of the credit.

yes.
Except all my cards have been throwaways given the airport savings hack haha
it was a nice walk to Mascot station yesterday ....

and yeah I used my MasterCard to tap on& off.

now on Friday my aim is to catch the 1.14pm service from Central to Newcastle (I think there’s half a. Dozen of us training up so I’m happy to do a mini meet up on the train (but probably not in the silent carriage) if that suits (aside the part of the trip up the Hawkesbury where the splendour of the journey needs a lil silent time)

cheers

 

[Bundy Bear]

yes.
Except all my cards have been throwaways given the airport savings hack haha
it was a nice walk to Mascot station yesterday ....

and yeah I used my MasterCard to tap on& off.

now on Friday my aim is to catch the 1.14pm service from Central to Newcastle (I think there’s half a. Dozen of us training up so I’m happy to do a mini meet up on the train (but probably not in the silent carriage) if that suits (aside the part of the trip up the Hawkesbury where the splendour of the journey needs a lil silent time)

cheers

1:14pm should work
Flight gets in at 11:35am so i can plan for a 1:14pm ex Central.

 

[QF WP]

Unless you have a Gold Opal where it may make a little more sense to use it.

$2.50 ($1.76 off peak) NTL (Airport) to Newcastle Interchange (City West) ...

There is a train service from NTL to the City? Excellent news. Looking forward to trying it with my CC (have an Opal card, but it's in storage)

 

[drron]

Doing a clean out. If anyone still smokes cigars i have 2 boxes of 25 dutch cigars. will give them away to anyone who wants them. just post on here or PM me before 0900 tomorrow so I can bring them.

 

[QF WP]

Do they keep as well as wines? Not a smoker, so no interest from me @drron

 

[QF WP]

Just added up the number of rooms booked at HI Express. 17. Seriously impressive. I think the lobby will be renamed AFF corner

 

[serfty]

There is a train service from NTL to the City? Excellent news. Looking forward to trying it with my CC (have an Opal card, but it's in storage)

No, it is a bus service #130 - not that frequent but can work for me,

And just five minute walk from Newcastle interchange to HIX.

 

[QF WP]

No, it is a bus service #130 - not that frequent but can work for me,

And just five minute walk from Newcastle interchange to HIX.

Yes, I got excited when I googled it - until I realised I was looking at Newcastle England's website. Thought it was weird that NTL was an international airport.

Now this looks like the right bus: | transportnsw.info and here's the right page to plan your trip: Trip Planner (so I can click on this link on Saturday without faffing around)

 

[CaptJCool]

I’ll keep an eye out

1:14pm should work
Flight gets in at 11:35am so i can plan for a 1:14pm ex Central.

for you

should your flight run late, it appears there’s services at 1.45, 2.15, 3.15 (arrives 5.49) 3.50, 4.20, 4.35, 4.50, 5.04, 5.20, 5.34, 5.50, 6.20, 7.15

 

[Bindibuys]

Yes, train every half hour, tho alternative train does have a couple of extra stops, adds about 10 minutes to journey

Post automatically merged: Oct 19, 2022

View attachment 302828

Anyone else want to pre-order lunch for Sunday?
I need to give them list by tomorrow afternoon.